5 Best Nicholas Winding Refn Movies, Ranked
This renowned director definitely has his own style, but not all of his movies are equally great.
Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn may not have made dozens of films, having released 10 since his debut in 1996, but he has certainly made a name for himself over the years and developed a unique, easily recognizable style.
His projects are unhurried, visually distinctive (which may be due to Refn being colorblind himself), and often feature some grotesque violence, which has been enough to bring him worldwide fame, even if not all of his work is equally great.
Since the creator has moved away from film in recent years to create TV series that are quite impressive, we would like to list five of his best movies, ranked in our opinion.
5. Valhalla Rising (2009)
Starring Mads Mikkelsen as a silent, one-eyed, nameless Norse warrior, the multi-part plot follows him as he joins a group of crusaders in search of the Holy Land. Dark, atmospheric and beautiful, this journey is a bit different from most other Norse-themed movies.
4. Pusher (1996)
This film launched the careers of both Refn and the aforementioned Mads Mikkelsen, who has been a friend of the director's ever since and appears here as the supporting character Tonny. The main character, however, is Copenhagen drug dealer Frank, played by Kim Bodnia, who gets into trouble after a new deal doesn't go as planned.
3. Bronson (2008)
Based on the true story of "Britain's most violent criminal" Charles Bronson, brilliantly played by Tom Hardy, who even met with his real-life prototype to better portray him, it shows how the titular criminal managed to achieve his infamous status.
2. Pusher II (2004)
After the success of his debut, it took some time for Refn to finally make a sequel, this time focusing on the aforementioned Tonny, who was promoted to the main character.
And miraculously, it turned out to be even better than the original, mainly due to the incredible charisma of Mads Mikkelsen, who already became a fan favorite in the first movie. The plot follows Tonny, who has to figure out what to do with his life after serving his sentence.
1. Drive (2011)
Undoubtedly the director's most iconic work, it has everything you could want, from great acting and story to Refn's signature visuals. It stars Ryan Gosling as an unnamed criminal-for-hire getaway driver who finds himself in the awkward position of having to protect his new neighbor Irene, played by Carey Mulligan, after a heist he was involved in ends tragically.